The executive director of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association has this assessment of the drought.

"Oh, goodness sakes -- the drought is devastating in western North Dakota," said Dan Wogsland.

Wogsland said when he was on the crop quality tour at the end of July, what he saw stunned him.

"I went from Mandan to Richardton, up to Halliday and over to Hazen," Wogsland said. "I was astounded at how many wheat fields were bailed up. It's really, really tough."

Wogsland said the crops look better in eastern North Dakota. But he said in the West, the effects of the drought will be felt for a long time. Wogsland said this has shown the need for a strong crop insurance program.

The developer of a wind farm and new transmission line in Oliver County will delay replanting of trees and shrubs affected by the development. That replanting is required by the Public Service Commission.

Oliver Wind III, LLC will delay planting until next year.

Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said the delay is a good idea.

"They were concerned there would be a low survivability of the trees and shrubs they did plant," Fedorchak said. "That's because of the lack of rain and drought conditions."

The state’s Industrial Commission is extending the waivers for inactive oil wells and non-completed wells.

Non-completed wells have been drilled, but have not been fracked. The inactive wells have been drilled and fracked, but are not producing oil. Current waivers say those wells need to be active a year after being granted a waiver – but the Commission is extending that for another six months.

State mineral resources director Lynn Helms told the Industrial Commission there are a number of reasons. One is price.

The drought conditions being seen in most areas of North Dakota are forcing many farmers and ranchers to make tough decisions when it comes to raising cattle. Prairie Public reporter Todd McDonald has details...

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has set up a new hotline for ranchers affected by drought.

Goehring said the hotline will connect ranchers in need of hay with those who have hay to sell or available pasture land.

"In the last couple of weeks, we've probably heard more concerns about the fact that we didn't have much rain this entire spring season," Goehring said. "Couple that with above average temperatures and wind, we don't have hardly any forage."